Andy Roddick believes that Roger Federer and Jannik Sinner share one of the most precious qualities for a champion: the ability to live the moments before the big challenges with extreme tranquility.

The Swiss legend and the current world number one have this important attitude in common, which can create a positive atmosphere even when things seem not to be going according to plan.

This was seen in the Wimbledon final against Alexander Zverev: the South Tyrolean lost the first set wasting a set point in the tie-break. Without losing his cool in the slightest, he returned to the court in the second half showing the right mentality and laid the foundations to complete the comeback. A comeback that allowed him to become the tenth tennis player able to defend the title on the lawns of the All England Club.

"Sinner is the most relaxed person I've ever seen, apart from Roger Federer, before a Grand Slam final," the American told his podcast 'Served with Andy Roddick'. "He seems to have a very calm confidence in the way he deals with things. Even his celebrations are not like anyone else's, you felt he was ready to start again an hour after the US Open, which is a problem for the rest of the world."

Sinner has made it official in recent days that he will not take part in the Montreal tournament, thus giving up the possibility of winning all nine Masters 1000 in the same season. The priority is to reach New York in top form to aim for the US Open and the sixth Slam in his career. The Italian will prepare for the last Major of 2026 by participating only in the Cincinnati Open, where he retired last year during the final against Carlos Alcaraz due to a strong flu attack.

The world No.1 will return to action at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 next month, in what will be his only tournament before the US Open which begins on Sunday, August 30 in New York City.

In the current season 2026, 19-year-old Spanish tennis player Rafael Jodar has enjoyed incredible success, which has brought him the highest ranking of his career, No. 24 in the ATP Rankings.

Jodar has become a real sensation in world tennis, and the Spanish media are already calling him the "new Rafa". His win-loss ratio in singles this season is an excellent 28-12.

He won his first ATP title on clay in Marrakech at the Grand Prix Hassan II tournament, where he defeated Marco Trungelliti in the final.

In his debut appearance at Roland Garros, he caused a sensation by reaching the quarterfinals. On his way to the last eight, after coming through two five-set thrillers, he eliminated Alex Michelsen and Pablo Carreno Busta before being stopped by second seed Alexander Zverev.

He also achieved excellent results in the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments on clay. In Madrid, he reached the quarterfinals, defeating Joao Fonseca and top-10 player Alex de Minaur in a spectacular "match of the future," 6-3, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, he was narrowly defeated by Jannik Sinner.

He also reached the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters immediately after.

At his home tournament in Barcelona, he reached the semifinals, where he was stopped by Arthur Fils after a great fight in three sets.

At Wimbledon, he reached the third round, where he was defeated by Shintaro Mochizuki.

An interesting continuation of the season is now ahead of him. Given that he is still young, he will make his first appearance at the Citi Open, an ATP 500 tournament that could be an incredible experience for him.

Jodar is optimistic before such a challenge, saying that he is ready for hard courts, although for most players it is often a problem to move from one surface to another.

The Spanish tennis player does not yet have enough experience to be fully accustomed to this kind of tournament schedule, but he certainly has a strong team around him, as well as the necessary mindset to achieve a positive result.

Jodar has high expectations for this tournament, believing that he can really achieve a positive result.

"Every surface has its own characteristics that you have to adapt to. I played very well on clay, but I think I can also play very well on hard courts. I haven't had much time to develop my game on grass." Jodar said.

His first opponent will be Arthur Fils, also one of the positive surprises of this season. Although the young Frenchman is facing serious problems, namely injuries that have become a major obstacle for him, it seems that he will do everything to defeat the Spanish tennis player.

This year's Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026, which runs from July 27 to August 2, is expected to be an extremely dynamic and unpredictable week as the tournament traditionally opens the North American summer hardcourt tour and serves as a key preparation for the US Open.

This season, the tournament brings several big stories, strong comebacks and intriguing home rivalries. According to bookmakers, the biggest favorites for the title in the men's competition are local stars Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton, who is looking for redemption after early exits at Roland Garros and Wimbledon on the surface that suits him best.

First seed Alex de Minaur is defending last year's title, but already at the start he has an extremely difficult draw as he is expected to face Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas. Also in the race for the title are dangerous players such as Tommy Paul, Jack Draper and Arthur Fils.

The young Spaniard Rafael Jodar is also attracting a lot of media attention. His main goal in Washington is to stay healthy and play without pain after recovering from a minor injury.

However, this tournament is extremely important for him in terms of results, as a strong result could secure him seeded status at the upcoming US Open, which would make his debut in New York significantly easier. He faces an extremely difficult match against Arthur Fils at the start.

Experts are divided when it comes to the chances of Rafael Jodar and Arthur Fils, stressing that both tennis players are really good and that it is difficult to assess who will emerge victorious from this match. Rafael Jodar is fully motivated, just like his opponent.

Both tennis players have shown this season that they can really play at the highest level, so it will be a real shame that one of them will end his adventure at the Citi Open so early.

This tournament will offer a lot of surprises, no doubt about it.

Grigor Dimitrov suffered a setback at the start of his North American hard-court swing after being forced to withdraw from Los Cabos because of bursitis.

The nine-time ATP champion, who is currently ranked No. 140 in the world, received a wildcard for the Mexican ATP 250 tournament and was due to face rising 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame in the first round.

But unfortunately, Dimitrov won't get to compete in Los Cabos this year. Instead, the Bulgarian has been replaced by lucky loser Edward Winter, who will face Kouame in the first round.

The 35-year-old's withdrawal also means he won't compete in Los Cabos for the first time since 2019. Back then, in his tournament debut, the former world No. 3 defeated Steve Johnson in the first round before losing to Guido Pella.

In a message posted on his Instagram Story, Dimitrov explained that he felt discomfort in his leg during Friday's practice. After undergoing medical tests, he was diagnosed with bursitis, a condition that causes pain, discomfort and swelling around a joint.

"Unfortunately here in Los Cabos on practice on Friday I felt something uncomfortable in my leg which prevented me from practice over the weekend. After medical checks it shows I have bursitis and therefore it’s been recommended to me that rest and recovery is my best option. I’m so sorry to the event as I was really looking forward to play here with such amazing Mexican fans," the former world No. 3 wrote.

Grigor Dimitrov has withdrawn from Los Cabos. Get well soon. ❤️‍🩹 pic.twitter.com/8oSodt0EGu

— LaWanda (@lawanda50) July 28, 2026

Dimitrov may not have played much in Los Cabos, but he is no stranger to Mexican tennis fans.

At the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, the 35-year-old has made seven appearances and is a former champion, having won the title in 2014. He also competed in this year's edition, losing to Terence Atmane in the first round.

Now, Dimitrov will focus on recovering in time for the remainder of the North American hard-court swing, with the US Open beginning on August 30.

Bernard Tomic clinched his first ATP main draw win of 2026 in style after destroying Mexican qualifier Alex Hernandez 6-1 6-0 in just 46 minutes in the Los Cabos first round.

The four-time ATP champion, who made the Los Cabos main draw as a lucky loser, came out firing right out of the gate, taking the opening five games before serving out the first set in the seventh game.

Tomic's dominance continued in the second set as the former world No. 17 didn't give world No. 498 Hernandez any opportunities and comfortably sealed the victory.

The statistics best illustrated just how dominant the Australian was - he converted five of his seven break points, didn't face a single break point and fired 15 winners.

Bernard Tomic se impone a Alex Hernández en sets consecutivos: 6-1, 6-0. #LosCabosTennisOpen pic.twitter.com/aC2dragMG1

— Mifel Tennis Open by Telcel Oppo (@MifelTennisOpen) July 28, 2026

In Mexico, Tomic is playing in his first ATP main draw of the 2026 season.

By beating Hernandez, the 33-year-old Australian recorded his first ATP main draw win since the Mallorca Championships in June 2025.

Next up for Tomic will be No. 4 seed Karen Khachanov, who received a first-round bye in Los Cabos. Although both are veteran players, they have never previously met.

Heading into the match, the Australian will certainly be the underdog. However, the former world No. 17 should be full of confidence after winning the Lincoln Challenger two weeks ago and now earning his first ATP main draw win of the season.

The Khachanov match will be a great test for Tomic, and it will be interesting to see if the Australian can pull off an upset and reach the Los Cabos quarterfinal.

Naomi Osaka admitted she was "really disappointed in myself" for a couple of days after losing in the Wimbledon quarterfinal, with one of the biggest reasons being her belief that this was her year to make a really deep run at The All England Club.

At this year's Wimbledon, the 28-year-old Japanese reached the round-of-16 for the first time after beating Daria Kasatkina. She then produced one of her biggest wins in years by upsetting world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 7-6 (2) to reach her maiden quarterfinal at The Championships.

THE MOMENT NAOMI OSAKA BEAT ARYNA SABALENKA TO REACH HER FIRST WIMBLEDON QUARTERFINAL. She looked like the world No. 1 today. Deserved. 🥹🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/J4G67Yw4dx

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 5, 2026

After sending Sabalenka packing, Osaka's hopes naturally grew and she appeared to believe she had a genuine chance of going all the way. However, her run ended in the quarterfinal after Karolina Muchova handed her a 7-6 (4) 6-4 defeat.

Reflecting on her run at The Championships while speaking with the media at the Citi Open in Washington, the Japanese star made an honest admission.

“Maybe for like a couple of days or so, I was just really disappointed in myself. Maybe that's just my mindset, because I'm so hard on myself. Obviously if someone gets that far in Wimbledon, it's something to be happy about, but for me, I really felt it was my time to do something," Osaka admitted in Washington.

After enjoying her Wimbledon breakthrough, Osaka will hope to carry that momentum into this week's WTA 500 tournament in Washington, where she is the No. 3 seed and received a first-round bye.

In her previous two Citi Open appearances, the former world No. 1 suffered round-of-16 exits in 2018 and 2025.

Osaka will open her Washington campaign in the round-of-16 against either Ashlyn Krueger or Katie Boulter.

Jannik Sinner's game has evolved dramatically over the past few seasons, turning the Italian into the dominant force on the ATP Tour.

His powerful groundstrokes, improved serve and remarkable consistency on every surface have all contributed to that rise.

Sembrano pronti per andare in spiaggia 🏖 😁🦊#Sinner #Vagnozzi pic.twitter.com/JCQiEpbwqm

— Adir-Ata (@Ad64Ir) September 28, 2025

However, according to his coach Simone Vagnozzi, the most important reason for the Italian's success has nothing to do with technique or groundstrokes.

Instead, Vagnozzi believes his player possesses a quality that is increasingly rare at the highest level of professional sport. Jannik has won five Major titles in the previous three seasons, establishing himself as the world's best player. 

Despite that, the 24-year-old has remained remarkably humble and eager to learn, constantly searching for ways to improve rather than surrounding himself with people who simply reinforce his opinions. 

That mindset, Simone says, has been one of the foundations of the extraordinary partnership they have built over the past four and a half years. 

Managing elite athletes often requires difficult conversations, especially after disappointing performances. Many players struggle to accept criticism, but Vagnozzi revealed that Sinner has always responded in the opposite way. 

The Italian coach explained that he has rarely needed to motivate his player because Jannik's work ethic is already exceptional. More importantly, he described world no. 1 as someone who welcomes honest feedback, even when it is uncomfortable. 

Vagnozzi also believes that Sinner's openness to criticism is one of the main reasons he continues to develop despite already sitting at the top of the rankings, leaving his closest rivals miles behind. 

Rather than seeking constant praise, the Italian prefers to work with people willing to challenge him and point out weaknesses. That approach has helped him make steady improvements every season, whether refining technical aspects of his game or making better tactical decisions under pressure. 

As Jannik continues to collect the biggest titles in tennis, his coach's comments provide an insight into the mentality behind the success. Physical talent has made him one of the sport's elite players.

On the other hand, his willingness to listen, reflect and embrace constructive criticism may be the quality that keeps him there for years to come. 

After defending the Wimbledon crown, Sinner will try to regain the US Open trophy and extend his brilliant run since March. 

"Perhaps in five years I have only had to motivate Jannik two or three times. He is always the first to sacrifice himself to improve, and he knows how to listen. He does not think he is better than anyone else.

Even if you give him a hard blow after a match, the next day he reflects, reacts, and accepts what you have told him. His greatest quality is that he likes to have people around him who tell him what he does not want to hear," Simone Vagnozzi said. 

Venus Williams has confirmed that she would love to play doubles with Serena Williams at this year's US Open.

Serena made her return to professional tennis by playing doubles in Queen's and Berlin before launching her singles comeback at Wimbledon. 

The Williams sisters were also scheduled to reunite in doubles at The Championships, but Serena was forced to withdraw because of a knee injury before they could take the court together.

The Williams sisters last played doubles together during Serena's farewell tournament at the 2022 US Open, where they were beaten in the first round.

Despite that loss, Serena and Venus remain two-time US Open doubles champions, having lifted the title together in 1999 and 2009.

Venus is competing at this week's WTA 500 tournament in Washington, where she is partnering Diana Shnaider in doubles. Ahead of the event, she was asked if the sisters could reunite again at Flushing Meadows.

“We would love to [play the US Open together], so we’ll see what happens," the 46-year-old said during her pre-tournament press conference at the Citi Open.

Serena and Venus were scheduled to face Camila Osorio and Solana Sierra in the first round of the Wimbledon doubles draw. However, on the day of the match, Serena announced that she had to withdraw because her knee wasn't ready to compete.

“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside Venus Williams once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could to be ready, but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete," the 23-time Grand Slam champion announced on Instagram on the day of their Wimbledon doubles first-round match.

        View this post on Instagram                      

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)

Serena Williams hasn't since confirmed her next tournament, but Venus' revelation is a clear sign that the 44-year-old is aiming to compete at the US Open.

Jenny Shin has returned to the winner's circle after a ten-year wait. The South Korean dominated the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open—a Ladies European Tour event held at Dundonald Links—winning by a two-stroke margin. Shin led the tournament from the first round to the last, finishing with a total score of 279 (-9) following rounds of 66 (-6), 67 (-5), 71 (-1), and 75 (+3). For the 33-year-old, this marks her second LPGA title—following her 2016 victory—and her first win on the Ladies European Tour. Starting the final round with a five-stroke lead, Shin opened solidly with five pars but then hit a rough patch, recording three consecutive bogeys. A par putt from about two meters on the ninth hole halted the slide, and two subsequent birdies (on the 10th and 12th) restored her firm control of the match. Despite two bogeys on the closing holes, she handled the pressure with composure. "I’m proud of how I held firm," Shin commented. "This win feels well-deserved; I’ve worked so hard—especially on my putting over the last four years—with the specific goal of winning before I retire."

South Korea’s A Lim Kim finished second at -7, carding a solid 68 in the final round. Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn took third at -5, while Germany’s Esther Henseleit finished fourth at -4. American Lauren Coughlin (the defending champion) and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita shared fifth place.

Unfortunately, none of the Italian players in the field made the cut, thereby missing the chance to compete in the final stages of the tournament.

Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen (finishing seventh at -2) qualified for next week’s Major, as did Daniela Darquea and Nataliya Guseva. Three other players (Leona Maguire, Ryann O’Toole, and Erika Hara) finished at -1.

The Ladies European Tour now moves on to the fifth major of the year: the AIG Women’s Open, scheduled for July 30 to August 2 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

After a week-long break following the season’s fourth major, the Ladies European Tour returns to action with a trio of events in the United Kingdom. It kicks off with the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open, scheduled from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, July 26 at Dundonald Links, in the heart of Ayrshire. The AIG Women’s Open and the PIF London Championship will follow. This marks the tournament’s 23rd edition (the ninth since it became co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour in 2017) and the fourth consecutive time it has been hosted by the modern Dundonald links—a course revitalized by a multi-million-pound investment that has made it a jewel of British golf.

Bernard Tomic withdrew from his Los Cabos qualifying final-round match against Tristan Boyer but later secured a place in the main draw as a lucky loser.

On Saturday, the former world No. 17 completed a big comeback in his qualifying opener at the Mexican ATP 250 tournament after coming back from a set and a break down to beat Colombia's Miguel Tobon 5-7 6-4 7-6 (5) in nearly three hours of play. 

However, Tomic never took the court for his scheduled match against Boyer. With several withdrawals from the Los Cabos main draw, the 33-year-old likely knew he was guaranteed a lucky loser spot and opted not to risk playing another qualifying match.

Now, the Australian has been handed a favorable first-round matchup against 605th-ranked Mexican qualifier Juan Alejandro Hernandez Serrano.

Bernard Tomic hace WalkOver en la final de la Qualy y horas más tarde se confirma que entra al MD como LL. No hay ninguna posibilidad de que Tomic no supiera que iba a ganar esa plaza de LL, la ATP debería darle una vuelta a las Lucky Loser, son un cachondeo pic.twitter.com/pu7QRCiL02

— Christian (@Christian2dos) July 27, 2026

The Los Cabos tournament will mark Tomic's first ATP main draw appearance of the 2026 season.

Before getting into the main draw as a lucky loser, the four-time ATP champion had failed six times to qualify for an ATP event this year.

It will also be his first ATP main draw appearance since June 2025, when he came through qualifying in Mallorca. On that occasion, the Australian defeated Rinky Hijikata in the first round before losing to Roberto Bautista Agut in the round-of-16.

Two weeks ago, Tomic won the Lincoln Challenger, lifting his first Challenger title since 2018, when he triumphed in Mallorca while the event was still a Challenger tournament.

After the Lincoln triumph, the Australian - who turns 34 in October - revealed that he had seriously considered retiring before his remarkable turnaround.

“I’ll be as honest as I can. About 10 days ago, I hit a bit of a brick wall - maybe two weeks ago. I said this is going to be my last year, so I guess I have to reassess a few things now... Probably going to play another 20 years," Tomic said after winning in Lincoln.

Meanwhile, in the past, Tomic played twice in the Los Cabos main draw, reaching the round-of-16 in 2016 and losing in the first round in 2018.

At the Kaskáda Golf Resort in Brno, Czech Republic, Germany’s Anton Albers claimed victory at the Raiffeisenbank Golf Challenge, an event on the HotelPlanner Tour.

Albers dominated the field with a total score of -20 (67-66-66-65), confirming his excellent form and sealing the win with a solid final round. Finishing three shots behind him (-17) in a tie for second place were Japan’s Tatsunori Shogenji (65-68-67-67) and the USA’s Alex Goff (67-69-66-65). Britain’s Callum Tarren and Denmark’s Kristian Hjort Bressum tied for fourth place at -16.

There was great satisfaction for the Italian contingent, with two players finishing in the top 10. Matteo Cristoni finished eighth with an excellent total of -13 (66-67-69-69). Cristoni impressed with his absolute consistency: four rounds all ranging between 66 and 69 strokes, with no drop-offs in performance and a solid all-around game. It was a mature performance that confirms his current run of good form. Jacopo Vecchi Fossa placed tenth at -12 (73-68-67-65). Despite a difficult start, he staged a spectacular comeback; his final round of 65 was one of the day's best scores. Vecchi Fossa climbed the leaderboard with authority, demonstrating character and quality during decisive moments. Aron Zemmer, Lorenzo Scalise, and Andrea Romano failed to make the cut.

Cristoni and Vecchi Fossa earned valuable points in the Race to Mallorca, the ranking that awards DP World Tour cards. In a long and competitive season, every position counts in the battle for promotion. The tour now moves to Estonia for the new Infortar Estonian Challenge, scheduled for July 30 to August 2 at the Estonian Golf & Country Club in Tallinn. This marks the HotelPlanner Tour’s debut in the Baltic nation, featuring a prize purse of €300,000.

One of the most anticipated events on the HotelPlanner Tour calendar returns. From July 23 to 26, 2026, the Kaskáda Golf Resort in Brno—located in the picturesque South Moravia region of the Czech Republic—will host the Raiffeisenbank Golf Challenge for the sixth consecutive time. The tournament, which debuted at this venue in 2021, remains a key stop on the Road to Mallorca. Designed by Jonathan Gaunt, the facility comprises three nine-hole loops; the tournament will utilize a combination of the "Wooden" and "Stone" courses, creating an 18-hole, par-71 layout measuring approximately 6,466 meters.

Precision and course management will be crucial: narrow fairways and thick rough will punish errors, while lakes and significant elevation changes (up to 36 meters on the Stone course) add further complexity. The resort offers a stunning setting with valley views and modern facilities, including a hotel, restaurant, and academy.

Among the headline acts is Denmark’s Hamish Brown, the 2024 winner at Kaskáda—a victory that secured his promotion to the DP World Tour. Brown is in excellent form this season, boasting three runner-up finishes and holding third place in the Road to Mallorca standings. American Palmer Jackson also returns, having dominated the 2025 edition with a six-stroke victory. All eyes will be on Czech player Filip Mruzek (ranked 14th on the Road to Mallorca), who is aiming for his second win of the season following his victory at the Interwetten Open in Austria. Joining him is fellow countryman Jiri Zuska, motivated to improve upon last year's T17 finish. The field is high-caliber, featuring several top players from the season standings ready to vie for valuable points toward promotion.

Novak Djokovic is a man with a huge fan base and is considered one of the greatest tennis players in the world.

Although the statistics support this, there are many who base their opinion on other values, but most will agree that Novak Djokovic is, if not the greatest, then certainly among the greatest.

The Serbian tennis player still has enormous strength and desire for success, which is clearly demonstrated by his presence at prestigious tournaments.

Although Novak Djokovic is aware that his body can hardly withstand the same efforts, he still dreams of winning a new Grand Slam title, wanting to set another record in the world of tennis.

His passion and desire for success have been noticed by his colleagues on the tennis scene, and even his colleagues in the women's category. Among them is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who is impressed by Novak Djokovic's desire.

According to her, because of what Novak is doing, she drew a parallel between the Serbian tennis player and LeBron James, as well as Tom Brady, who, despite their later playing years, still play at their peak, showing that sport is their greatest passion.

She believes that fans and players should simply enjoy watching these athletes.

“It’s incredible what Djokovic is doing. I mean, there is professionalism, and he takes it to a completely different level. It’s a bit like LeBron James, it’s the same thing, and Tom Brady as well: they continue to play at their best level at an age when most players have already retired.

As fans, and if we love tennis, we have to take the time to appreciate this and simply enjoy watching him play while we still can.” she said.

The world No. 5 recently stated that he still has the desire to dominate at Grand Slams and that as long as his body is able to handle the demands, he is ready to compete at important tournaments.

The tournament in Montreal will be an interesting experience for everyone, and one of the main topics is that most tennis players will be looking for their chances now that Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz will not be present at this Masters 1000 event.

Although last year the organizers claimed that this year's tournament would be a completely different experience with top tennis players participating, things have not changed significantly and it seems that this tournament is really experiencing serious problems.

The new 12-day format has not changed the opinion of many, so the organizers are again panicking and are worried, aware that the absence of the top 3 tennis players will represent a major blow for them.

They also noticed such things on the Service Volée account, and they shared an interesting analysis on Twitter during the "Sans Filet" show on Winamax TV.

Namely, the speaker points out that the Canadian Masters experienced a complete disaster, although last year the director made different promises.

According to him, the 12-day format is also a problematic format that obviously does not attract much interest from some of the best tennis players.

“The Canadian Master* 1000 is the biggest victim of this situation. The best players will never play this tournament again. On top of that, last year the tournament director said: ‘I promise you, in 2026 they will all be there, we will convince them, it’s a Masters 1000, it’s mandatory.’

No Alcaraz, who is injured. Sinner is missing because he doesn’t feel like playing, even though he could have won a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title. Djokovic, obviously, is not coming because he hates this 12-day format.

And once again, we are left with a Masters 1000 tournament that will last 12 days without the best players in the world. This is a format that is problematic.” he said.

Alexandra Eala is one of the most positive surprises of this season, and tennis fans in the Philippines follow her every performance closely.

Her very arrival on the tennis scene caused real euphoria in her country, but she also attracted everyone's attention.

In an interview with the media, the young Filipino tennis player talked about various topics, with a special emphasis on dealing with pressure. Having a large number of fans behind her sometimes implies high expectations, but it seems that the young tennis player finds a way to cope with everything.

The 21-year-old tennis player points out that everyone has a certain amount of pressure in their life, but she believes that it is important to have the right approach, that is, trying to take the pressure off yourself and find ways to really succeed in such an environment.

“Of course there’s pressure. There’s also added pressure because of all the support I receive, and I don’t want to let people down. I truly appreciate everyone.

Pressure is part of everyday life. Maybe it’s amplified when you’re a competitive athlete, but we’re not exceptions. Everyone has to figure out how to deal with pressure in their own lives. The scale of that pressure has definitely grown over the past year, but I try not to take myself too seriously. When people say, “You’re the pride of the Philippines,” I try not to dwell on it too much. I don’t want it to get to my head." she said.

She went on to add that only she wants to achieve her dreams significantly more than anyone else. According to her, no one has a greater desire to succeed than herself, therefore, it is important not to disappoint herself, but also the people who support her.

Eala emphasizes that this is a personal journey and she is grateful to everyone who wants to be a part of it, but she is certainly aware of the sacrifices that her family made to build this kind of career, as well as the time that her Lolo invested in her during his final years.

According to her, this is the biggest pressure she carries, and if she can face it head-on, Eala feels she can face anything.

Novak Djokovic advanced two positions on the latest ATP rankings and is now in fifth place with 3,760 points, while Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner remains comfortably in first place with 13,450 points.

German tennis player Alexander Zverev retained second place with 8,480 points, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz is third with 8,160, while Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime is in fourth position with 4,740.

Australian Alex de Minaur dropped one place and is currently the sixth-ranked tennis player in the world, while Russian Daniil Medvedev moved up to seventh position.

American tennis player Ben Shelton dropped two places in the ATP rankings and is now the eighth-ranked player in the world.

Italian Flavio Cobolli and American Taylor Fritz also feature in the top 10 of the ATP rankings.

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has a strong ambition for the rest of the season, despite the fact that many wrote him off as one of the main candidates for winning prestigious tournaments. He has the biggest focus on Grand Slams.

The US Open will be a chance for Novak Djokovic to become the player with the most wins in the history of this tournament, and by reaching the semi-finals, he would also break the record for the number of matches played at the US Open. Novak Djokovic decided to skip the Masters in Montreal in order to fully prepare for one of the biggest challenges of this season.

Experts and analysts have mixed emotions when it comes to Novak's chances of winning another Grand Slam.

Novak Djokovic is aware that he will have an extremely difficult task, especially in the competition of such young and promising players. Nevertheless, his ambitions are so high that fans believe that the Serbian tennis player can make a success at the US Open.

The main favorite of this tournament will certainly be Jannik Sinner, but we cannot write off Carlos Alcaraz either, although his condition is not completely clear after a long absence from the tennis courts.

Carlos Alcaraz's expected return at the Cincinnati Masters could determine far more than his immediate comeback. 

According to Greg Rusedski, a Masters 1000 event in Ohio will reveal whether the Spaniard is truly ready to challenge for the US Open or whether an even longer absence from the Tour lies ahead.

CARLOS ALCARAZ, SEÑORAS Y SEÑORES. CARLOS. ALCARAZ. 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯pic.twitter.com/eArwTKKbtI

— Tiempo De Tenis (@Tiempodetenis1) February 20, 2026

The 23-year-old has now spent months recovering from the wrist injury that forced him to miss the clay-court and grass-court highlights of the season. 

The seven-time Major winner has already missed three straight Masters 1000 tournaments and two Majors at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, experiencing the most extended break of his career.

Although recent updates have been encouraging, Rusedski believes the real answers will only come once Alcaraz returns to competitive action.

The former British no. 1 believes Cincinnati represents the ideal proving ground before the year's final Major event at the US Open. If the Spaniard can compete there without physica limitations, confidence in his chances for the crown in New York will naturally grow.

However, Greg also pointed out the other side of the equation. Missing the sixth Masters 1000 event of the season would almost certainly signal that the wrist has not recovered sufficiently for the demands of Major tennis. 

That setback would potentially extend the Spaniard's absence by several more weeks or even months. 

Alcaraz and his team have consistently emphasized that they will not rush the recovery process. Missing big events is never easy, but they want to make sure the young gun returns only when he is 100% ready. 

The El Palmar native has gradually increased the intensity of his training, but every decision has been guided by the long-term health of his wrist rather than short-term objectives. 

Rusedski agrees that retruning only when fully fit is the corret approach. However, the former US Open finalist acknowledged the consequences of another potential delay. 

In his view, skipping Cincinnati would almost certainly rule Carlos out of the US Open and prolong an absence that has already kept one of tennis' biggest stars away from competition since April.

The coming days should provide greater clarity on Alcaraz's condition. Cincinnati is increasingly viewed as the tournament that will define the reminder of his 2026 season. 

If the Spaniard is cleared to compete and his wrist endures hitting at full strength, world no. 3 could head to New York with renewed confidence and hunger. If not, patience will continue to take precedence over risking a premature return.  

“To have a chance of playing the US Open, Carlos needs to play in Cincinnati. If his wrist holds up there, it will be excellent news for our sport, because we need to see him back on the courts.

On the other hand, if he does not play in Cincinnati, it will mean he will not be competing at the US Open and that he will be away from tennis for a very long time,” Greg Rusedski said.

Jannik Sinner has announced that he will not participate in the Masters 1000 in Montreal. The decision interrupts an extraordinary string of successes on the tour, which began last March in Indian Wells and continued with victories in Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome.

The Italian therefore puts an end to the dream of many of his fans who would have liked to write another very important page of this sport, that is to win all 9 Masters 1000 in the season. A record that would have been incredible, but which will hardly ever be achieved due to the setting of all the events within an already very engulfed calendar.

The number one wanted to prioritize his mental and physical health, taking the right amount of time off before facing a new period full of commitments, which will see him as a protagonist both in Cincinnati and then at the US Open, the last Slam of 2026.

The decision to forfeit in Canada has clearly attracted a lot of criticism from people who have not looked favorably on it.

Rick Macci, on the other hand, wanted to defend the choice of the five-time Grand Slam champion by explaining his point of view: "Sinner and his team know what is best for him, both mentally and physically. His workload is very different from other players, because he is expected to win every game. It is a very different mental pressure from that to which the other players on the circuit are subjected. Being extremely motivated in every match, always giving your best and not batting an eyelid is real mental magic. The "Italian flamethrower" knows this feeling well, so he is able to handle the situation," he wrote on his X profile.

The world number 1 has given up his dream of winning all 9 Masters 1000 in the same season. His main goal is to express his best tennis at the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season, which begins on Sunday, August 30 in New York.

For Italian tennis, the most positive news of the week that is about to begin is that of Lorenzo Musetti's return to the court.

The tennis player from Carrara, who thanks to constant growth had gone up to fifth position in the world ranking at the beginning of the year, had to deal with some injuries that have strongly affected his season, the last of which was the injury to the rectus femoris of the left thigh remedied in Rome that cost him participations in Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

After a three-month stop and a dozen positions lost in the rankings, the Italian is finally ready for his return, which will take place at the ATP 500 in Washington scheduled from July 27 to August 2. There is expectation on the part of the Italian fans to find out what the condition of the 24-year-old Tuscan is, who preferred not to force the times by skipping part of the tour on clay and all the swing on grass, a surface on which he obtained his first Grand Slam semifinal (Wimbledon 2024).

The debut in the American capital of the former world number five is scheduled for Monday 27 July. The urn was rather mocking: the derby with Matteo Arnaldi awaited him in the first round, who with the semifinal at Roland Garros regained confidence and climbed the rankings.

Musetti is in the United States and is already warming up his engines: in a video released by journalist Ben Rothenberg, the Italian tennis player trains on the training courts of the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park, waiting for his first match at the Mubadala DC Open.

It is inevitable that the physical form of the Carrara native is not yet the best, but the US tournament can serve as a preparation for the big event at the end of the season, the US Open, in which Lorenzo will defend the points of the quarterfinals reached last year. Lorenzo could have shone at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but bad luck has already struck him several times in 2026 and everyone's hope is that he can play with the right continuity between now and the end of the season.  

Jack Draper's 2026 was characterized by numerous physical issues, which caused him to fall to the current 147th position in the ATP rankings.

A knee injury forced him to miss the clay court season entirely. The flare-up of a problem with his left arm prevented him from participating in Wimbledon, a Slam in which he has always placed more expectations. The young British tennis player will return to Washington, and at his side he will have Andy Murray to give him a hand directing him to a prompt climb towards the ranking he deserves: "It's fantastic because he really believes in me and in my tennis.

He believes that I can go very, very far in this sport and the fact that one of your greatest idols thinks so is something to be very proud of and that gives me confidence," Draper told Sky Sport about the collaboration with his compatriot. "We are walking a path together and I believe that there are many things I can improve in my game and a lot still to achieve".

According to Andy Murray, the reasons that lead tennis players to get injured more and more frequently are to be found in the new and lighter rackets and in the tension of the strings, which in the past absorbed more vibrations, not weighing on the joints: "I don't think the statistics indicate that there are more injuries today than ten years ago – said the three-time Grand Slam champion,

On the other hand, he believes that the nature of the disorders has changed, which today mainly affect the shoulders, wrists, elbows and arms. Players use much lighter rackets than in the past and much stiffer strings. This causes more of the force of the impact to transfer directly to the arm. Lighter rackets equal greater speed and power of the shot. An advantage that, however, can cost the athletes' bodies dearly. The hard price to pay to compete at the highest level."

Ben Shelton makes his return to the court this week at the ATP 500 tournament in Washington which officially opens the season on hard courts in North America that leads to the US Open starting in just over a month on Sunday 30 August.

Shelton is experiencing a season with many ups and downs, three ATP titles won in Dallas, Munich and Stuttgart but also a series of disappointments especially in the Slams.

With the start of the North American tour on hard courts, one of the phases of the season that best suits his tennis, the current number 6 in the ATP ranking spoke about the ups and downs that characterized his 2026.

"It's been a strange season for me - said Shelton - There have been a lot of ups and downs. I've won more titles than in any other year of my career and we're only halfway through the season. At the same time, there are many aspects of my game that frustrated and disappointed me. I think I still have a lot of room for improvement in the second half of the year and now I'm entering a period of the season that I really like and in which I generally express my best tennis."

With the US Open just around the corner, one of the tournaments he considers most important, Shelton knows he has to raise the level: "What bothers me the most is performance. I don't know how much it depends on my level of play, on individual games, on specific situations or on the decisions made on the pitch, but I am someone who always tries to be consistent. I would say that what frustrated me the most was the inconsistency of my tennis. One of my main goals on the tour is to go all the way in tournaments, to end the week lifting the trophy. It's something that I was less able to do in the past, but I'm getting better and better at."

He added: "I think some of the frustration comes from the eliminations in the first rounds, which is kind of a trap for me. I have to be able to be more consistent week after week in these situations. Returning to Florida immediately, a few days after the defeat at Wimbledon, adapting immediately to the heat and resuming training was very important. It was the only positive side of losing in the first round of a tournament where I usually go a long way and play well. But this is tennis".